Boot-cleaner.



No. 633,737. Patented Se t; 26, I899. E. SHAW. v

800T CLEANER. (Application filed m 11, 1399.

.(No Model.)

ITHBSSBS J Wk UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR SHAIV, OFSYVAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOOT-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,737, dated September 26, 1899.

Application filed May 17,1899. Serial No. 717,126. (No model.)

To a whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR SHAW,of Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot- Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel boot-cleanerto stand, preferably, ata door and bymeans of which mud or dustmay be removed from the boots preparatoryto entering the house.

My cleaner is also adapted to be used for detaching overshoes from the feet.

Figure l is a top plan view of my improved boot-cleaner. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. -l is a side view showing the cleaner tipped to permit the removal of an overshoe. Fig. 5 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the foot differently formed at its margin. Fig. 5 represents an edge or side view of the foot shown in Fig. 5.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the drawings wherever they occur.

In the production of my novel boot-cleaner I take a head a and provide it with bristles a to constitute a brush. The head may be of wood or any usual material, and I prefer to bore holes in the same and insert the bristles in said holes, and I may secure said bristles in said head in any usual mannercommon to the art of brush-making. The head, as shown, is of peculiar shape-that is, it has a shank a and is bored for the reception of a handle or handpiece b. The end of the shank will preferably enter a suitable socket in a base or foot 0, the head, handle, and foot being united in suitable manner, the method herein shown being a bolt (2, formed on the shank a and projecting below the socket s, and a nut d, engaged with said bolt, a washer d being preferably interposed between the nut and socket. The shank is here shown as provided with a flange a which is secured to the head a. The foot 0 is represented as provided with one or more recesses c to receive the heel part of an overshoe. This recess is preferably arranged so that the median line a; w of the sole of a shoe engaged with the recess will extend tangentially, the

line of thetangent being outside the periphcry of the brush, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the clothing of the user of the device will not be pressed against the brush when overshoes are being removed.

The foot has provisions forgiving an elongated bearing on the floor when the foot is tipped in the operation of removing an overshoe. This is best accomplished by providing the foot with downwardly-projecting studs t l, (preferably of elastic material,) formed to bear 011 the floor, the studs being so arranged relatively to the recesses c that two of them will cooperate in giving the foot an elongated bearing on the floor on a line which is substantially at a right angle with the median line 0000 of a shoe 6, engaged With the elevated recess 0, said bearing-line being indicated at y 1 in Fig. 1. The foot is thus squarely supported and prevented from rolling on the floor, as would be apt to be the case if the foot were of circular shape externally.

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the foot is shown with a raised margin, forming a scraper, the upper surface of the foot within said margin being depressed to form a dirt-receptacle below the brush. In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 the recesses c are shown within the raised margin and interrupting its continuity, while in Fig. 5 the said recesses are formed in projections 0 outside the said margin, which is or may be of uniform height all around the foot. Then the foot is made in this form, it may not be necessary to tip it when removing an overshoe, the recesses being above the floor.

To prevent unauthorized removal of the device and at the same time permit it to be tipped freely, I provide a flexible connection between the foot and the floor, said connection being preferably a chain 2, secured at one end to the foot and at the other end to the floor and having sufficient slack to per mit the desired tipping of the foot.

I claim 1. A boot-cleaner having a foot provided with a raised margin formed to serve as a scraper, and with a recess in said margin for the reception of the heel of a shoe, and aplu rality of studs projecting from the lower sur= face ofthe foot, two of said studs forming an extended bearing on the floor when the foot i shoe engaged With said recess, substantially I is tipped, substantially as described. as described. 1o

2. A boot-cleancr comprising a brush hav- 1 In testimony whereof I have affixed my siging a long handle, and afoot to sustain said I nature in presence of two witnesses.

brush, said foot having a raised margin, and EDGAR SHAW.

a projection extending outside the margin, \Vitnesses: v

said projection having a heel-receiving recess i O. F. BROWN,

arranged to permit a tangential position of a A. D. IIARRISOX. 

